Why the high prices for Disney resorts?

[pyrophoric]

Spoken like a true cheap skate I am sure ...

Besides transportation and sending purchases back to your room, why the extremely high prices to stay at Disney resorts?

We were looking at staying seven days at either the Contemporary or Polynesian this year but never realized the price per night for a semi decent room. My real shock was looking at the amenities. You seem to get so much more for so much less at hotels outside the parks.

Are there things they aren't listing that I should be aware of when deciding where to stay?

Thanks

Edit: I guess the question should really be, are there hidden amenities or things not well known that would make a stay at a Disney resort a little more valuable?

 

[celticdog]

We are going to Orlando for 10 days in October of this year. Most of the time will be spent in the parks, however, a couple days we will be enjoying the hotel and life outside the parks (wave runners, horseback riding, evening shows).

For pricing and amenities, we were looking at the Caribe Royal Orlando. Including the hotel, car rental, food, parks and recreation it would be about $3,500-$4000.

Going to the Contemporary or Polynesian would be about $6300 before food, car rental, recreation and other non Disney related parks (HHN).


Edit: Very true about the pricing for value or moderate. I hadn't really considering them before.

There is a lot you could trim from your budget and stay on property and still have a fantastic time.
1. Stay at Pop Century verses the Poly, the price difference will be close to $300 per night. That would be a $3000 savings.
2. Ditch the rental car. If your staying on property, you won't need a car with all the buses and taxis. Estimated savings $500.
3. I believe you can get free dining for October. Savings for 3 adults: $1200.

I personally think your estimate is low, as you can see I was able to eliminate $4700 of expense.

Just remember if you're staying offsite, you will to pay for parking and you will have additional travel time.

 

[DisneyJoe]

2. Ditch the rental car. If your staying on property, you won't need a car with all the buses and taxis. Estimated savings $500.

or only get the rental car for the days that you plan on going offsite to non-Disney areas. The Swan/Dolphin and Disney Car Care center both have car rental facilities.

 

[pyrophoric]

There is a lot you could trim from your budget and stay on property and still have a fantastic time.
1. Stay at Pop Century verses the Poly, the price difference will be close to $300 per night. That would be a $3000 savings.
2. Ditch the rental car. If your staying on property, you won't need a car with all the buses and taxis. Estimated savings $500.
3. I believe you can get free dining for October. Savings for 3 adults: $1200.

I personally think your estimate is low, as you can see I was able to eliminate $4700 of expense.

Just remember if you're staying offsite, you will to pay for parking and you will have additional travel time.

First ... free dining? Have not heard about this (yes I have been under a rock).

We are renting a car because we plan on going to other parks as well. Mainly, we want to go to HHN if nothing else. Plus we have some friends in the area we wanted to visit. Being such a long trip, we planned for other things to do.

True about the parking, we fail to budget that everytime.

 

[goreesha]

First ... free dining? Have not heard about this (yes I have been under a rock).

We are renting a car because we plan on going to other parks as well. Mainly, we want to go to HHN if nothing else. Plus we have some friends in the area we wanted to visit. Being such a long trip, we planned for other things to do.

True about the parking, we fail to budget that everytime.

http://bookwdw.reservations.disney....mo&promotionCode=fy09q4dine&market=fy09q4dine

 

[Master Yoda]

First ... free dining? Have not heard about this (yes I have been under a rock).

We are renting a car because we plan on going to other parks as well. Mainly, we want to go to HHN if nothing else. Plus we have some friends in the area we wanted to visit. Being such a long trip, we planned for other things to do.

True about the parking, we fail to budget that everytime.

Free dining is running from mid August to October third. In a nut shell when you book a Disney resort at rack rates you will get the Disney dining plan for free. Just based on what it costs a family of four where your kids are 10 or older you can save just shy of $160 per day. When you look at what the food that you can get would cost you out of pocket the savings will far surpass that $160 mark.

 

[DVCOwner]

All I can say is that in the countless trips to Walt Disney World I have only stayed off park one time and I still regret it. I love to be able to leave in the middle of the day, take a short bus ride to my hotel and relax for a while. Than hit the parks again fresh when the crowds are getting smaller. This was even more important when I had small kids. If I could not afford a high end resort on property; I would rater stay at a value resort on park than the nicest hotel that Orlando has to offer. When not visiting the parks my whole vacation, I have stayed at Orlando hotels for a day or two when visiting other locations or friends.

 

[pyrophoric]

Free dining is running from mid August to October third. In a nut shell when you book a Disney resort at rack rates you will get the Disney dining plan for free. Just based on what it costs a family of four where your kids are 10 or older you can save just shy of $160 per day. When you look at what the food that you can get would cost you out of pocket the savings will far surpass that $160 mark.

Oh, ok. Maybe that's why I wasn't seeing anything about it. We are going from October 9th - 19th.

We are probably looking too far ahead for good deals anyways.

 

[Master Yoda]

Oh, ok. Maybe that's why I wasn't seeing anything about it. We are going from October 9th - 19th.

We are probably looking too far ahead for good deals anyways.

Not really. While nothing is out now AP and Florida resident rates are pretty common that time of year. Those can get you anywhere from 20%-40% off of your room. An AP will also open up a myriad of other discounts to you as well.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Not really. While nothing is out now AP and Florida resident rates are pretty common that time of year. Those can get you anywhere from 20%-40% off of your room. An AP will also open up a myriad of other discounts to you as well.

AAA room only rates could be available too.

 

[pyrophoric]

Wow, it completely slipped my mind to look for Florida resident discounts. Unfortunately for rooms, their resident discount calendar seems to only extend through June.

We don't need to make any purchases before that time and it gives us an opportunity to figure out what we want.

 

[Master Yoda]

Wow, it completely slipped my mind to look for Florida resident discounts. Unfortunately for rooms, their resident discount calendar seems to only extend through June.

We don't need to make any purchases before that time and it gives us an opportunity to figure out what we want.

Also look at the Florida resident AP's as well. The seasonal AP is around $250 and save for free parking gives you all of the benefits of a full AP.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Wow, it completely slipped my mind to look for Florida resident discounts.

This is why people use Disney-specialist travel agents like Kingdom Konsultants and others - they do this every day for their clients and know all of the available options!

 

[smk]

First ... free dining? Have not heard about this (yes I have been under a rock).

We are renting a car because we plan on going to other parks as well. Mainly, we want to go to HHN if nothing else. Plus we have some friends in the area we wanted to visit. Being such a long trip, we planned for other things to do.

True about the parking, we fail to budget that everytime.

If I read one of your posts right...you said you live in the panhandle? Why are you renting a car? Why not drive to Orlando so you don't have to rent a car?

 

[pyrophoric]

If I read one of your posts right...you said you live in the panhandle? Why are you renting a car? Why not drive to Orlando so you don't have to rent a car?

Don't want to put the miles on my car, it's not in the best shape honestly. Besides, between renting on my credit card and my local insurance ... if anything happens to the car I am covered.

Besides, our car isn't exactly like 15 years old and it's nice to get in a newer/tricked out car for a week or two.

 

[JoeDsny]

There is a few sayings I live by and one of them is "you get what you pay for" or another from my mother "when in doubt, dont cheap out". It has worked for me for years.

 

[pyrophoric]

There is a few sayings I live by and one of them is "you get what you pay for" or another from my mother "when in doubt, dont cheap out". It has worked for me for years.

While I totally respect each saying, it's not so much me wanting to cheap out as it is actually get the best bang for my buck.

Going expensive doesn't always mean getting the best. Best example, paying for a name brand. Get an iPod just to get an iPod or be trendy...or get something else for a cheaper price with more features. The only thing you would be missing would be the iPod name.

I was applying the same concept towards Disney resorts. It is apparent though, from replies on this thread, I at least need to try one of the cheaper hotels to see what I am missing.


Edit:

It seems hard to know what you truly get for your money at a Disney resort. Hotels outside of the parks list everything in great detail, they have to so they can compete with the resorts. It may be a situation where most or all of the amenities included outside the park actually are included inside park resorts, they just fail to mention that.

Good example, I am sure the beds inside Disney resorts are nice but what exactly am I going to be sleeping on? Most hotels list their bedding, like a sleep number bed. Well, since most of my time is going to be sleeping I am partial to the outside hotel because I know that I will be getting something comfortable.

I don't know what I will be getting from Disney (especially not having stayed at any of their resorts before).

The replies on this thread have been really helpful and with more research before out actual trip (and probably a weekend getaway before hand to test a Disney resort stay) I will figure out what is best for us.

 

[Gucci65]

Unless I win the lottery or get a sugar-daddy, I probably won't ever stay in the Deluxe resorts. The best I've done is Port Orleans - Riverside and Carribean Beach - which I loved.

That being said, I also love Pop Century. Yes the rooms are smaller, but I'm only in it long enough to shower and sleep.

I agree with everyone else - there is no comparison to saying on property vs. staying offsite. No comparison whatsoever. When I go to WDW all I want to do is eat, sleep and breathe Disney. IMO - On property is the only way to go.

As suggested you could call Kingdom Konsultants for help with your vacation planning. They rock!!!

 

[ClemsonTigger]

I guess our problem, with budgeting and justification, may be that we have never stayed on property.

Honestly, all we have to go on is to compare price and amenities. So based on those two things, outside hotels are more of a value in our minds.

Accept for the perks mentioned earlier in this post, a hotel like Caribe Royal seems very comparable to something like the Contemporary for less than half the price.

We live in the Florida pan handle, so maybe we should take a weekend down there and just try out a nice resort just for a day and see how we feel. Maybe even drive to a couple different ones to get a feel for what they are and what vibe they give.

True, but not having anything else, these hotels HAVE to offer the additional perks to even be competitive.

You then have to pay for parking as well.

Bottom line is if you think an outside hotel provides the greater value, then go with it and enjoy your vacation. If you did stay on property, you would probably spend your time confirming what a waste it was which would distract from your overall experience.

 

[batkc]

With the exception of just a few years, we have always stayed at the Dolphin. The discounts we can get (besides using up Starwood points) outweighs not being able to charge our purchases from the parks to our room and Magical Express. Besides, you get to use extra magic hours and on property transportation. If you see the transportation & ticket center on a busy day you will be glad you aren't parking there.

 

[GatorGambit]

Disclaimer: I am a HUGE cheapskate. I have made doing big things on the cheap somewhat of an art form. With that....

I have been to WDW somewhere around 100 times - my first visit being when I was 18 months old in 1978. (Oops...gave away my age there!) I am going back again in about 3 weeks, and of all those times, this will only be the second time I have ever stayed on property - the Buy 4 Get 3 Free deal was just too good to pass up. With that said, I have never had a bad time staying off property, and when done correctly you can stay at WDW Deluxe- or Moderate-level accommodations for somwhere between Moderate- and Value-level prices. Consider:

• Location: My last visit I stayed at Gaylord Palms. I could literally see Pop Century from my room. There are many hotels off of 192 that are only a 2-3 minute further drive away from the parks than the majority of on-property resorts - and in some cases even closer than on-property!
• Value for the Money: The Gaylord Palms stay I referenced was a $99 a night stay off of Priceline. The hotel is rated as being on par with most Deluxe resorts, with better pools to boot. I've stayed at Hampton Inn on 192 several times for the around the price of a night at a Disney Value resort, and got free WiFi and free breakfast out of the deal.
• Transportation: If you are driving down yourself, then this is a completely moot point. If you are flying down, renting a car is no big deal, and I vastly prefer it over Disney transportation, which I have used on several occasions. I have rented small cars though Priceline/Hotwire for around $100 for a week at MCO out the door.
• Dining: This kind of depends on your party and what you want to eat. Table service on- and off- property is a push in my opinion if you live near a metropolitan area. Buffets and counter service restaurants are hands down cheaper with varying degrees of quality outside the World. I usually do breakfast on or off property, lunch on property, and dinner on property unless it's an early night and Disney's offerings aren't appealing.
• Downsides of Staying Off Property: Immersion, theming and the Disney Experience are negatives to varying degrees depending on where you are staying at. You don't get luaus, monorails, character breakfasts and watercraft rentals at the Hampton Inn. Go a bit more upscale for a fraction of the cost of an on-property resort, and you get resort quality amenities, better pools, more theming, over a basic hotel. Gaylord Palms has great theming and a WDW store! However, the Disney Experience cannot be replicated, which is why I still want to stay a night at each monorail resort.
• One more thing: Extra Magic Hours: I think they are overrated. Studies show that the park with that day's EMH end up being more crowded than the other parks. If you are willing to park hop it can make a difference, but my family stays in one park for an entire day. I'm not saying it isn't a worthwhile benefit, I'm saying that it shouldn't be as big of a factor in choosing your accomodations.

Anyhow, that's my take on it.